As business leaders and innovators, we often face the challenge of balancing success and well-being. In the rush of building companies, health can take a back seat. Azreen’s journey with Caremeals offers a different approach. Her startup is more than just about food—it’s about meeting the real needs of vulnerable people. During the pandemic, she realized nutrition could be a lifeline, especially for the elderly and those with medical conditions. This insight led to the creation of Caremeals, where food isn’t just fuel, but a way to make a difference.
Key Takeaways
- Caremeals was born out of a need to provide nutritious, tailored meals for vulnerable populations.
- Caremeals disrupts the healthy food industry by creating therapeutic meal plans based on patient’s medical data and nutritional needs.
- Azreen envisions Caremeals becoming a leader in personalized nutrition, aiming to expand regionally and enhance healthspan through innovative food solutions.
Highlights
Azreen Shares How She Started Caremeals: Where Food Meets Purpose
Q: What was the initial spark of inspiration, and how was the startup idea conceived?
A: My entrepreneurial journey began in 2017, but it was during the COVID-19 lockdown in Malaysia that the idea for Caremeals was conceived. During that time, we received numerous inquiries about our meal offerings. Customers frequently asked whether our meals included processed foods, MSG, or canned ingredients. Initially, I viewed these questions as signs of picky consumers. However, after engaging with some of them, I realized the deeper significance behind their concerns.
Many were inquiring on behalf of elderly relatives with specific health conditions, such as diabetes or gout, and some were reaching out from as far away as the UK to arrange food deliveries for their parents. This experience served as a wake-up call, highlighting how, amid the pandemic and its uncertainties, I have overlooked the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly and those with medical conditions requiring specialized diets. Thus, Caremeals was born, aimed at providing nutritious meal options tailored to those in need.
Q: How does your startup idea align with your passions and values?
A: Shortly after the pandemic I was going through a rough life changing moment that I wanted to give up everything and go back to traditional employment. It was during that period of darkness, that I found my true calling to do whatever it takes to build the Caremeals journey and bring happiness to people’s life.
Q: How has your startup disrupted or transformed your industry?
A: At Caremeals, we are transforming the ideology of healthy food consumption into a preventive and targeted nutrition approach. Just as individuals take medication to recover from or mitigate certain illnesses, we develop therapeutic meal plans tailored to address diseases and illness based on patient’s medical data. Our technology identifies nutrient deficiencies and generates corresponding meal plans.
Q: How does your product positively impact your customer’s life?
A: We remove the hassle of managing an in-house kitchen by the caregivers. Throughout these years, we have helped nursing homes, geriatric centers and doctors with the personalized meal solution based on their patients’ need.
We are one of the recipient for the 2024 Food System Impact Change Maker awarded by Impact Circle.
Q: What is your vision for your startup’s long-term impact and growth potential?
A: This year marked our 3rd year operating Caremeals and we have expanded our services to the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. I envision Caremeals as the leading personalized nutrition experience and inspire a community where every bite contributes to a healthier, happier future through our commitment to innovation and revolutionize the way people approach food. In long run, more and more people would resort to personalized meal intake to address their health condition such as diabetes and kidney disease before considering other alternatives. Our upcoming technology enhancements for key processes will establish new milestones, enabling the distribution of therapeutic meal plans across Malaysia and laying a solid foundation for our regional expansion.
Q: How do your motivation and commitment drive you to create a meaningful impact?
A: In the past, discussions around healthy eating often focused on prolonging lifespan. I would like to shift that perspective to emphasize eating according to our body’s needs in order to enhance healthspan. If Caremeals can contribute to extending healthspan and enable individuals to spend even a brief period of quality time with their family and loved ones, I consider that a truly fulfilling and meaningful impact. It reinforces that every effort and investment is worthwhile.
Using Food to Improve Lives
Azreen’s mission with Caremeals goes beyond providing meals. It’s about giving people control over their health. For caregivers, it removes the stress of meal planning. For the vulnerable, it offers a way to eat right, without worry. Caremeals is a reminder that what we eat can shape our future. As entrepreneurs and leaders, we can learn from Azreen’s approach. By investing in solutions that address real needs, we create lasting impact, both in business and in life.
Highlights
Read the Chinese version here.
